Wealth Without Benefit
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koṭuppatūun tuyppatūu millārk kaṭukkiya / kōṭiyuṇ ṭāyiṉu mil.
“Amid accumulated millions they are poor, / Who nothing give and nought enjoy of all they store.”
“Behold the men that neither give unto others nor enjoy their wealth themselves: even if they possess tens of millions they really possess nothing.”
To those who neither give to the needy nor enjoy it themselves, even crores of wealth are entirely worthless.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கொடுப்பதூஉம் துய்ப்பதூஉம் இல்லார்க்கு= பிறர்க்கு ஈவதும் தாம் நுகர்வதுமாய இரண்டு செய்கையும் உடையர் அல்லாதார்க்கு; அடுக்கிய கோடி உண்டாயினும் இல்= பலவாகிய அடுக்கிய கோடி பொருள் உண்டாயினும் ஒன்றுமில்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
For those who neither give to others in need nor enjoy it themselves, even crores of wealth piled high are as good as nothing.